Monrovia, Liberia – A five-day strategic conference has begun in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with four coalitions joining two West African-based networks, the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA) and the Mano River Union Civil Society Natural Resources Rights and Governance Platform (MRU CSO Platform). These coalitions include the African Climate Platform (ACP) and the Environmental Rights Legal Framework Coalition for Africa (ERA).
Known as the Freetown gatherings Under the theme “Building a Just Future: Advancing Advocacy for Natural Resources, Social Justice, Civic Engagement, Environmental Rights and Defenders Across Africa,” these Coalitions, among others, started a rigorous process that included validating a five-year program for the Environmental Rights Legal Framework Coalition for Africa, reviewing and validating a petition to seek an advisory opinion before the African Court on the human rights obligations of African Governments to respond to the Climate Crisis, and holding discussions centered around the release of the first report on retaliatory attacks on Environmental Defenders in West Africa.
The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources of Sierra Leone, Julius Daniel Mattai, served as keynote speaker at the opening ceremony. He emphasized the need for the management of mineral resources in the region and the continent at large, stating that the region is rich, but the people are poor, and that it is time that Africans take action.
Among other things, delegates will review current law suits filed in domestic courts, the ECOWAS court, and non-judicial grievance mechanisms to protect human rights and the environment.
All four institutions will also be discussing governance, communication, outreach, and advocacy strategies to strengthen solidarity and be more responsive to the challenges of the climate crisis facing people and frontline communities throughout Africa.
Minister Mattai demanded a practical strategy to address the issue after pointing out the region’s and the continent’s vulnerability to climate change.
“Value added is difficult because our resources are normally taken here as raw materials, and there is no infrastructure for the sector,” he stated.
At the same time, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Natural Resources urged Africans to adopt a new perspective and focus on tackling pressing problems that impact the continent and region as a whole.
“To help address some of these issues, it is also key to incorporate regional and global approaches” , he said.
“We must develop our young women and men with the requisite skills to ensure that they compete globally,” Mr. Mattai reiterated, emphasizing the importance of capacity development for young women and men on the continent.
Alpha Sesay, the Justice Minister of Sierra Leone, also spoke at the program, encouraging the respective communities to effectively use the laws to advocate for their people.
“Make a commitment to deliver a justice process or system that will respond effectively to justice needs of the people,” he urged justice and rights actors.
The conference is being held at a time when Sierra Leone is working harder to address climate change issues, according to the country’s attorney general, who expressed concern that if the issue is not addressed, it will worsen the region’s and the continent’s economic, social, and environmental conditions.
minister Sesay also mentioned security, health, and the environment as additional consequences of climate change that are having a detrimental effect on people.
As the meeting continue, experts have also emphasized how urgently a comprehensive regional environmental accord is needed in order to improve the efficient application of environmental rights and offer targeted protection and assistance.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
